Why Phones Aren’t Working at Navi Mumbai Airport

Dispute between telecom companies and airport operator leaves passengers struggling with poor mobile connectivity inside the terminal.

Passengers using the newly opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) are facing poor mobile network connectivity inside the terminal. Many travelers have reported dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and weak signals on major networks such as Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea.

The issue is not due to a technical fault but has arisen from a dispute between telecom companies and the airport operator over network infrastructure and related costs.

According to sources, the disagreement is between private telecom operators and Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), which is operated by Adani Airports Holdings Ltd. The dispute centers on whether telecom companies are allowed to install their own equipment inside the airport and the fees being charged for access.

Concerned about passenger inconvenience, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) wrote to the Telecom Secretary on Tuesday, 30 December, seeking intervention from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). In its letter, COAI urged the authorities to ensure that Right of Way (RoW) rules are followed and that fair competition is maintained.

RoW rules govern how telecom infrastructure can be installed and operated in public and private spaces, including large facilities like airports.

COAI stated that its member companies—Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea—have claimed they were not allowed to set up their own network systems inside the airport. As a result, they say they are unable to provide reliable 4G and 5G services within the terminal.

The telecom companies also alleged that NMIAL is asking them to use an existing network installed by the airport authority and charging high fees for access, which they believe is unreasonable.

However, NMIA has denied these claims. An airport spokesperson said that no telecom operator has been denied permission and that discussions are still ongoing. The spokesperson added that the airport has not refused Right of Way access and has offered in-building solution (IBS) services, commonly used in large buildings, at standard industry rates. According to the airport authority, the telecom companies have not yet formally responded to this proposal.

Meanwhile, passengers continue to suffer due to the ongoing dispute. Several travelers have shared complaints on social media platform X, citing problems such as missed calls, delayed messages, and lack of internet connectivity at the airport.

Navi Mumbai International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 October and began commercial operations on 25 December with its first scheduled flight. The airport is expected to reduce congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport and play a key role in the region’s aviation growth.